How do you PAY for school?????

[RichardJBoro]

Ok, here goes. I'm 32 yo and considering going back to school. I've wanted to be in the medical field as long as I can remember, but have finally "hit the wall" in my current job. I'm excited, tense, and somewhat concerned. How on EARTH do you figure out how to live, go to school, and still pay your bills??

I mean, I did it once, but I was poor as hell, didnt have a car payment, and lived in a hellhole. Can I do it with a truck payment, and have somewhere decent to live? and if so, HOW?????

thanks in advance for any help.

Later Ya'll,

[dianacs]

Also http://www.fastweb.com I believe for scholarship info.

[studentnurse74, LPN, LVN]

Also http://www.fastweb.com I believe for scholarship info.

Also: http://www.fafsa.org/ Talk to a counselor at your school, that's what I plan on doing. I know the whole process is overwhelming.

[momof38160]

No car loans and we're sitting on a very low interest home equity we can tap into if need be.

[manna, BSN, RN]

If money issues are a problem and if you're able, you can try to cut your lifestyle as well - less going out, basic phone service, disconnect cable, switch to a cheap dial-up ISP instead of cable or DSL, eat beans and rice, rice and beans (shades of Dave) - in other words, live frugally. :)

It would also help to be out of debt as much as possible before trying to begin school. Life is a lot easier to handle when you don't have to worry about a bunch of payments. :)

I guess it just depends on how bad you want it (school).

[AmyLiz]

I got a job at a dialysis clinic owned by a hospital & the hospital's paying for everything. :)

If you can't find a job at a hospital/clinic, definately look into the scholarships.

[Sheri257]

Nevermind.

[mitchsmom]

I have Stafford loans and my husband works. We aren't dirt poor and I have a previous degree so I couldn't get much more than that.

I was going to start writing about how we live frugally but I think I'll go start another thread about that :)

I would definitely talk to financial aid at the school you are interested in. Some hospitals will also pay for you to go through school if you promise to work for them when you are done.

[TopCat1234]

hubby is working ot all this week and trying to start his own business. but if i don't get into this program in the fall , i'll be going back to work til i get in somewhere next year.

topcat

[epg_pei]

...with a temporary loan from the taxpayers of Canada. I don't have the grades for scholarships, so I am stuck with the whole bill. I'll have drained my meager retirement savings, plus the aforementioned student loan, before I am done. Burning through my cash quickly too. I am basically into next years funds now. The car will be gone shortly, I simply can't afford the maintenance and operating costs. May clinical and a course everyday through July/August kill my chances for a decent full-time summer job. Oh well, walking is good for you...when it's -50. :)

[kahumai, RN]

Scholarships.

And loans, loans, loans, and more loans!!!! :chuckle

I don't want to see the bill until I've got my Master's, if at all possible. :rotfl:

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

...with a temporary loan from the taxpayers of Canada. I don't have the grades for scholarships, so I am stuck with the whole bill. I'll have drained my meager retirement savings, plus the aforementioned student loan, before I am done. Burning through my cash quickly too. I am basically into next years funds now. The car will be gone shortly, I simply can't afford the maintenance and operating costs. May clinical and a course everyday through July/August kill my chances for a decent full-time summer job. Oh well, walking is good for you...when it's -50. :)

Patrick I feel for you. It takes commitment, courage and creativity to keep on going when the going gets tough. When I started my prerequisites, I traveled 50 miles a day by bus, bike and train in a part of the country where driving is the primary mode of transport. Whatever it took. I spent 6 hours just traveling... more time traveling than actual class time. When you really really want something, you find a way to make it happen. I know it sounds hokey but it's true. This is temporary Patrick.

[Ruylupez]

One of the girls in my class told me she got a job doing paperwork in the admit office of a local hospital. Once she was an employee they offered tuition reimbursment for her to go to school, and after they learned she had completed her first semester of nursing school they transfered her over to an area where she could get patient care experience.

Don't expect to be able to keep living like you have in the past, School is expensive and you will have to make sacrafices but it is worth it in the long run.